Highland Queen

Chapter 45

“Help me get him up,” I told Nimue who appeared to be in shock. “Nimue!”

“Yes. Yes, all right,” she said.

Working together, Nimue and I lifted Banquo to his feet.

“We’ll take him to my chamber,” I told her.

“Mother,” Aelith said, worry in her voice. She held on to the skirt of my dress.

“It’s safe here, Aelith. This is a hidden place. No one can come here.”

We supported Banquo as we guided him to my old bedchamber. Moving gently, we lay him down on my bed. Banquo groaned.

“Are you in pain?” I asked.

“It’s a strange ache,” he said.

Blood still marred his skin.

“Can you bring some water?” I asked Nimue.

She nodded then rushed away.

“I know this place,” Banquo said. “I was here, once.”

“This is the home of the Wyrds.”

“That smell…that beautiful flower smell,” he said sleepily.

“Rest, my love. You will heal now, but you must rest.”

Nimue returned a few moments later carrying a bowl of water. I took it from her and cleaned the blood from Banquo’s chest. Again and again, I checked the rhythm of his heart, his breathing, his temperature. He was well. He was in shock and aching, but he would live.

I removed his ripped and bloody shirt then covered him with a blanket. When I was done, I rose.

“We must see to Andraste,” I told Nimue.

Nimue, who had gone terribly pale, nodded. I pitied her. She and Andraste had been together for hundreds—hundreds—of years. In a single instant, her sole companion had disappeared.

“Aelith, stay with your daddy,” I told the girl.

She nodded but said nothing.

“No wandering out of the temple. I mean it.”

She nodded again.

Nimue and I went back to the cauldron terrace.

“What should we do?” I asked Nimue.

“We’ll take her to the temple of the Lord of the Hollow Hills.”

Bending, Nimue and I gently lifted Andraste. I was amazed at how light she was. Her body was frail, most of her weight coming from her robes. It was not easy carrying her down the steps and into the city, but neither Nimue nor I spoke or complained. We did the task that needed doing.

We walked down the narrow side street and then down into the temple of the Lord of the Hollow Hills. The blue fire in the sconces flickered to light before us. We turned and looked at one another but said nothing.

When we reached the chamber, we went to one of the empty altars and lay Andraste down. Nimue gently folded Andraste’s arms across her body.

“Cerridwen, what are we going to do now?” Nimue asked, but my thoughts were distracted.

In the distance, coming from one of the caves, I heard the strangest whisper. Soft voices spoke.

Cerridwen, come. The forest is awake. The forest is alive with fire.

Light flickered in one of the caves, and I recognized the silver etching on the cave walls. It was the tunnel that led to Dunsinane.

“Nimue,” I whispered.

“I hear it too. Go, Cerridwen.”

“But Banquo and Aelith,” I said, hesitating.

“Return to us when the hurly-burly is done. We will wait for you. I will watch over them.”

I headed toward the cave. Taking a torch from the wall, I stepped inside the tunnel once more and set off to return to Dunsinane.